Brookshire Grocery creating new concept store

(Oct. 15, 2:24 p.m.) Brookshire Grocery Co. is planning to break ground on a new concept store, FRESH by Brookshire, in January.

The Tyler, Texas-based grocery chain hopes to open the store by the end of 2009 in its hometown, said Rae Champagne, strategic initiatives planner for Brookshire.

Brookshire operates 156 supermarkets with four different concepts in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. The company’s original stores, Brookshire’s Food Stores, are full-service supermarkets, while Super 1 Foods Stores are warehouse-style stores, Olé Foods have an emphasis on Hispanic consumers and Always Low Price Stores (ALPS) are discount stores, according to www.brookshires.com. The company also operates three distribution centers, two in Tyler, and one in Monroe, La.

Plans call for the FRESH concept store to be built on a 10-acre property, as the anchor tenant of a new 23-acre development known as Ridge at Oak Hills, according to a news release. The shopping center has plans for retail stores, restaurants and professional offices, along with a 1.3-acre park, a natural amphitheater, walking paths and outdoor play areas for children. Brookshire plans to partner with the developer, Oak Properties, to build the outdoor attractions.

Champagne said the company plans to release more information about the store’s concept and offerings by December.